After scuttling some 42 planned performances on Aug. 28 in anticipation of extreme weather conditions from Hurricane Irene, the 15th annual New York City International Fringe Festival has now cancelled all performances on Aug. 27 as well, as New York City announces that all mass transit will shut down at noon Saturday.

FringeNYC, with 192 productions in tow, launched Aug. 11 and was scheduled to present its final performances on Aug. 28. However, the forecast for Hurricane Irene, which is expected to drench the New York area on Saturday and Sunday, prompted festival leaders to now cancel the final two days of performances Aug. 27-28.

Refunds for the Aug. 28 performances had already been issued earlier in the day Aug. 26. FringeNYC executives said the announced shut-down of all New York City mass transit as of noon Aug. 27, and the necessity to keep roads available for mandatory evacuations for parts of New York City, prompted the cancellation of Saturday performances as well.

Despite a change in plans for its final day of performances, FringeNYC has announced its "Encore Series," which will highlight favorites from the 2011 festival from Sept. 9-26 at the Players Theatre and the SoHo Playhouse.

Initial shows set for the "Encore Series" include PigPen Presents the Mountain Song, The Legend of Julie Taymor, Fourteen Flights, The More Loving One, Facebook Me, Araby, Paper Cut, You Only Shoot the Ones You Love, Parker & Dizzy's Fabulous Journey to the End Of the Rainbow, Pearl's Gone Blue, Felony Friday and COBU.

Additional productions will be added to the roster. Tickets for the "Encore Series" will go on sale Aug. 29. For complete ticket and show information, visit FringeNYC.